Fluoroscope top for cardiac bed which is swingable about a vertical axis of the bed

ABSTRACT

A fluoroscope top for a vehicular invalid bed or the like upon which the patient may be trundled to the site of the fluoroscopic examination. The patient is supported upon an X-ray transparent pallet which is pivoted at one side edge, somewhat medially thereof, on a supporting underframe upon which it may be swung clear of the understructure of the bed and transversely thereof to emplace the upper part of the patient&#39;&#39;s body into a radiation field free of the shielding understructure of the bed. The pallet is supported during such movement and at the transverse position by an auxiliary carriage that is detachably connected to the pallet at the head end thereof.

United States Patent IS SWINGABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS OF THE BED 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl G03b 41/16 Fleld of Search 250/54-58;

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,366,952 6/1964 France 269/324 Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-A. L. Birch AttameyLuedeka, Fitch, Even, Tabin & Luedeka ABSTRACT: A fluoroscope top for a vehicular invalid bed or the like upon which the patient may be trundled to the site of the fluoroscopic examination. The patient is supported upon an X-ray transparent pallet which is pivoted at one side edge, somewhat medially thereof, on a supporting underframe upon which it may be swung clear of the understructure of the bed and transversely thereof to emplace the upper part of the patients body into a radiation field free of the shielding understructure of the bed. The pallet is supported during such movement and at the transverse position by an auxiliary carriage that is detachably connected to the pallet at the head end thereof.

PATENTEU DEL28 I97! sum 1 [IF 2 "IVENTOR EARL LEONARD WQLLIANS PATENTED M228 1911 31531, 242

mm 2 or 2 FIG.2

ee 2s INVENTOR EARL LEONARD WILLIAMS AT 1W8 FLUOROSCOPE TOP FOR CARDIAC BED WHICH IS SWINGABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS OF THE BED This invention relates to equipment for facilitating the fluoroscopic examination of cardiac patients, and particularly, to an X-ray transparent top for a vehicular bed or stretcher which permits the patient to be wheeled into the X-ray examination area, and which, without requiring movement of the patient from his supine position on the bed or stretcher, permits him to be placed directly between the radiation source and receiver by turning the entire top of the device to isolate the patient from the understructure of the vehicle.

It is an object of this invention to provide equipment to facilitate the fluoroscopic examination of the upper portion of the body with a minimum of disturbance of the patient for the sake of such examination.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide such facility in a bed or stretcher having a body supporting surface of the sectional or articulated type upon which the patient can be placed into the various attitudes required for any particular treatment or status, and into which he can be placed hurriedly should an emergency be encountered during examination.

In order to facilitate the fluoroscopic examination of the body cavity and its organs, the vehicular bed of this invention provides a body-supporting pallet which, in its parts in immediate proximity to the body, is transparent to X-radiation.

The pallet is mounted on a supporting frame in such a way that it may be pivoted thereon about a vertical axis located at one side of the pallet, approximately medially thereof, so that the pallet when turned is disposed transversely of the long axis of the bed, with approximately a half portion thereof extending outwardly over the side of the bed. To facilitate this swinging movement, as well as to support the body pallet in this transverse, outwardly extending position, a separate auxiliary carriage is provided which is itself a wheeled or castered vehicle that may be detachably connected with the body pallet by means of quick-detachable connections at the sides of the free end of that portion of the pallet which extends outwardly from the bed in the transverse position.

Because such a bed should desirably serve all of the usual hospital bed functions as well, the body-supporting pallet and its directly supporting underframe are each articulated on corresponding transverse hinge axes which, as indicated by the broken line positions of FIG. 1, permit a patient reposed thereon to be placed in a sitting or half-sitting reclined position.

When the patient support pallet is in other than horizontal position, e.g., when its several articulated sections are in the broken line position of FIG. 1, it cannot normally be rotated relative to its supporting underframe, the two being effectively interlocked against relative swinging movement by the weight of the patient when elevated from the flat, horizontal position. When, however, the pallet and underframe are flat, rotation of the pallet on the underframe is made easy by rollers which are mounted on the supporting underframe and which engage the undersurface of the pallet. To prevent unintended movement of the two there is provided on one side of the head wing of the supporting underframe a fixed stop which (FIG. 2) serves to limit the swinging movement of the body pallet in the transverse position, and serves as well as a positioning stop to be engaged by the side of the head section of the body pallet on its subsequent return into position overlying on the underframe. To prevent unintended swinging movement of the body pallet into the transverse position of FIG. 2, there is similarly provided on the pallet to side of the head section of the underframe a pivoted stop which, supine erect as in FIG. 1, imprisons the body pallet between itself and the opposite fixed stop, but and removed as in FIG. 2, permits the pallet to be swung out to the transverse position, as for X-ray examination.

The vertical axis about which the body pallet swings is located on the seat section of the pallet so that only one hinge axis, that between the seat section and the head section of the pallet, does not overlie the supporting underframe when the pallet is transverse of the bed, as in FIG. 2. Inasmuch as the head section of the pallet is independently supported in that position by the auxiliary carriage, and inasmuch as the pivot axis of the pallet to the underframe prevents tipping of the seat section of the pallet, the supine body is firmly supported by the head section of the pallet, the hinge axis between the head a nd the seat sections thereof providing whatever slight accommodation may be occasioned by any unevenness of the floor traversed by the auxiliary carriage, such unevenness usually being of insufficient degree to be troublesome to the condition of the patient.

The invention is hereinafter explained in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a vehicular bed in accordance with this invention illustrating also the auxiliary carriage which is detachably associated with the patient-supporting pallet for rotating the same to a position transverse of the bed to remove the supine body from the masking effect of the metallic undercarriage and to place it in the radiation field for examination;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bed shown in FIG. 1, showing the auxiliary carriage coupled with the body-supporting pallet, and with the latter swung out transversely of the long axis of the bed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in greater detail the auxiliary carriage and the manner in which it is coupled in supporting relation with the body-support pallet;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2, illustrating in part the mounting of the roller supports upon which the body-supporting pallet is movably mounted; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1, illustrating the roller support for the body-supporting pallet, and illustrating in section the coupling members of the auxiliary carriage and body-supporting pallet.

For a detailed description reference should be made initially to FIG. 1, which illustrates the undercarriage of the bed or stretcher as a wheeled platform 10 supported by relatively large castering wheels 12 for easy movement, and having thereon a pair of hydraulically operated telescopic supporting columns 14. The undercarriage is preferably of the character disclosed in my U.S. Pat. NO. 3,393,004, issued July I6, 1968, i.e. the hydraulic columns 14 operated either together or independently by means of a pump pedal 16 and controls (not shown), located preferably at the foot end of the vehicle.

An upper frame structure 18, which provides an underframe 20 for immediately supporting a body pallet 22, as well as the operating mechanism 24 for placing it into various positions of which two are illustrated in FIG. I, is essentially the structure and mechanism of a so-called two-crank" spring, and will be recognized as the form particularly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,210, issued Nov. I0, I953, to the assignee of this invention.

The upper frame structure 18 comprises a pair of angle iron side rails 26 which are connected together by suitable crossmembers (not shown) and to the top of the telescopic columns 14, as shown partially in FIGS. 2 and 5 by tubular crossbars 28 having underslung angle brackets 30 pivoted at each end of the bars 28 and secured to the side rails 26 below the crossbars 28. At their ends, the side rails 26 are provided with upwardly open tubular sockets 32 which receive the stakes 34 of a removable headboard 36 at one end of the bed and a removable footboard 38 at the other. A bed-encircling bumper 39 is secured to the ends of the side rails 26. As will be apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3 the headboard 36 of the bed is removed in order to couple the auxiliary carriage 40 with the body pallet 22, and to permit the latter to be swung into the transverse position of FIG. 2.

The underlying supporting frame 20 for the body pallet 22 is divided at transverse hinge axes into a head section 42, which is movably mounted upon a fixed seat section 44, thigh section 46 likewise hinged to the seat section, and a foot section 48 hinged to the thigh section. The particular form of operating mechanism 24 for positioning the underlying support frame 20 and the overlying body pallet 22 in the several attitudes of which it is capable is not a part of this invention, and reference is made to the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,2l for those details. It is sufficient here to recognize that in the manner essentially conventional for two-crank springs, a crank is provided for the manipulation of the head section 42 of the underlying support frame, and a second crank is provided for the independent adjustment of the thigh section 46, and, with the thigh section, in following relation, the foot section 48 as well. As is also conventional, the cranks are of the folding type so that they can be retracted to a nonintruding position when not in use, (FIG. 1).

In place of the usual mattress-supporting fabric, the sup porting underframe 20 is provided instead with three crossmembers 50, 51 and 52 (FIG. 2) which are inverted channels which extend transversely of the head section 42, thigh section 46, and foot section 48, respectively, of the supporting underframe. They are supported from, and beneath the level of the side rails of the underframe 20 on stepped brackets 54, the crossmember 50 in the head section 42 of the supporting underframe 20 being positioned diagonally thereof for appropriate location of the sets 56 of rollers which are mounted on each of the several crossmembers, and also on individual stepped plates 58 and 60 secured to the side rails of the frame 20 in the head section 42 and seat section 44.

The roller sets 56 are arrayed in banks with their rotational axes radiating from the vertical pivot axis 62 about which the body pallet turns. As indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the roller sets comprise a pair of angle brackets 64 welded to their respective supports and connected by an axle 66 which supports two or more rollers depending upon the location and the load. The axle pin is maintained in assembled relation with the mounting brackets by suitable locking rings 68.

The pivot axis 62 about which the body pallet 22 turns relative to the underlying support frame 20 consists of a tubular socket bearing 70 which is secured as by welding to one of the upright supports 72 for the seat section 44 of the supporting underframe to receive therein a pin or trunnion 74 similarly welded to the side rail of the seat section of the body pallet.

The body pallet 22, as earlier indicated, is articulated on hinging axes corresponding with those of the underlying support frame. The pallet consists of a perimeter frame 76 of upwardly open angle iron (FIG. the sections of which are hinged together by shoulder rivets. The actual body supporting surface may be a relatively thick sheets 78 of X-ray transparent material of strength adequate to support the weight of the body between the perimeter frames. It should be of a material that will also withstand the effects of sanitizing chemicals. Its undersurface should be flat and smooth, inasmuch as it is directly in contact with the supporting rollers 56 of the underframe, and should be sufficiently resistant to crushing to take no permanent impression from the rollers, inasmuch as such local densification reveals itself as a shadow in the radiation "picture.

Secured to the head section 80 of the body pallet 22 and welded thereto in flanking relation is a pair of channel-shaped sockets or scabbards 82 which receive, in sliding relation, the bayonetlike probes 84 of the auxiliary carriage 40. The sockets 82 are C-shaped in cross section (FIG. 5) to prevent the disengagement of the probes by sideward displacement, and yet are sufficiently open to permit visual observation by the attendant, while making the insertion. The assembled relationship of the probes of the auxiliary carriage with the sockets is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The auxiliary carriage 40 includes a tubular base frame 86 supported by three widely spaced castering wheels 88. Extending upwardly from the sides of the base frame are a pair of tubular posts 90 which are spaced apart the width of the body pallet 22 and are ofa height such as to place the probes 84 at the upper ends thereof at the level of the body pallet when the bed is fully raised on its wheeled undercarriage, and when the body pallet 22 is flat, i.e., horizontal thereon.

The probes are swiveled in the tops of the posts by pins 92 welded perpendicular thereto, and the probes extend well forwardly from the auxiliary carriage for the insertion of a comfortable length thereof over the end of the bed and into the receiving sockets 82 at the sides of the free end of the body pallet 22. Because of their swiveled, cantilevered relation to the upper ends of the posts 90, the probes are braced by gusset plates 94 welded respectively to the probes and to a semicylindrical bearing pad 96 which assists in transmitting the load from the probes 84 to the posts 90.

In similar fashion the posts 90 are braced to the base frame 86 at their lower ends by gusset plates 98 welded to both, and are additionally braced by corner braces in the form of a V- shaped rod 100 welded at its ends to the posts 90 adjacent their upper ends, and at the apex of the V to the base frame 86. The probes extend rearwardly from the posts 90 and are fitted with handle grips 102 by means of which the carriage is steered into coupled relationship with the body pallet.

The swivel mountings of the probes 84 by the insertion of the pins 92 into the open upper ends of the posts 90 serves several purposes, most importantly providing for easy insertion of the probes into their sockets 82 on the body pallet 22, notwithstanding manufacturing tolerances which cumulatively can cause disparity between the heights and spacings of the probes 84 and their receiving sockets 82. Secondarily, the swiveling of the probes permits them to be turned toward each other when not in use, and thus to reduce the space required by the carriage. To further the latter purpose, the handle portions of the probes may also alternatively be bent at right angles to the long axes of the probes.

When the coupling is made, the headboard 36, as earlier indicated, having first been removed by lifting its supporting stakes 34 from the tubular sockets 32 of the bed underframe, the steering handles of the auxiliary carriage are used to walk the body pallet 22 around its vertical pivot axis 62 and into the transverse position of FIG. 2. Before such pivoting may be accomplished it is first necessary to retract a movable stop 104 pivoted to the side of the head section 42 of the support frame 20, the limiting position of FIG. 2 being determined by a fixed stop 106 on the opposite side of the head section 42. The fixed stop 106 also serves as the limiting stop for the return of the body pallet into fully superposed relationship to the supporting underframe. When that position is restored, the retractable stop 104 is again raised to prevent unintended dislodgement of the pallet 22, and the auxiliary carriage 40 is withdrawn from coupled relation with the pallet, and the removable headboard 36 is replaced.

With the aforedescribed arrangement of pivoted, carriagesupported swinging movement of the X-ray pallet, the patient can be removed from the field of the examination device and placed in a matter of seconds into any of the attitudes of which the bed itselfis capable, as may be required in emergencies experienced during examination.

The features believed patentable are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fiuoroscope top for vehicular invalid beds or the like including,

a pallet of X-ray transparent material for supporting the supine human body,

an underlying support frame,

said pallet and underlying support frame being pivotally connected at one side of the pallet medially thereof to guide the pallet in swinging movement about a vertical axis through the pivotal connection thereby to place the long axis of the pallet transverse to the long axis of the bed with a semiportion of the pallet extending laterally outwardly from the bed,

a plurality of rolling support means between the support frame and pallet mounted for rotation on one of them and engaging the other to support the pallet on the frame and to facilitate said swinging movement, and

a separate carriage detachably connectable to the pallet at the free end of said semiportion to support the same in said outwardly extending position and in movement to and from said position.

2. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the pallet and underlying support frame are each articulated for hinging movement at corresponding transverse hinge axes located between said vertical pivot axis and said free end, and wherein said rolling support means are mounted on said frame and engage the underside of said pallet.

3. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the pallet and underlying support frame are each articulated at a plurality of corresponding transverse axes for relative hinging movement of the sections defined therein by said axes to move a body reposed supinely thereon into a reclined sitting position, said support frame having frame-adjusting apparatus connected thereto for maintaining any selected position of said sections, said pallet having but one of said axes between said pivotal connection and said free end, said support frame and pallet having interengageable stop means for halting their relative swinging movement when their long axes are respectively parallel and transverse.

4. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection of the pallet to the support frame is a pin on one of them received in a socket on the other and separable therefrom by lifting the pallet, thereby disconnecting the pallet from the support frame.

5. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the detachable connection of the carriage to the pallet comprises a pair of paced, elongated, horizontal probes on said carriage and a pair of mating sockets secured to the sides of said pallet at its free end, the carriage being connectable to the pallet by movement of the carriage longitudinally of the pallet to insert the probes of the carriage over the end of the bed into their mating sockets on the pallet.

6. The fluoroscope top of claim 5 wherein the probes are swingable on vertical axes on said carriage and also vertically adjustable thereon to facilitate the insertion of the probes into the sockets of the pallet. 

1. A fluoroscope top for vehicular invalid beds or the like including, a pallet of X-ray transparent material for supporting the supine human body, an underlying support frame, said pallet and underlying support frame being pivotally connected at one side of the pallet medially thereof to guide the pallet in swinging movement about a vertical axis through the pivotal connection thereby to place the long axis of the pallet transverse to the long axis of the bed with a semiportion of the pallet extending laterally outwardly from the bed, a plurality of rolling support means between the support frame and pallet mounted for rotation on one of them and engaging the other to support the pallet on the frame and to facilitate said swinging movement, and a separate carriage detachably connectible to the pallet at the free end of said semiportion to support the same in said outwardly extending position and in movement to and from said position.
 2. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the pallet and underlying support frame are each articulated for hinging movement at corresponding transverse hinge axes located between said vertical pivot axis and said free end, and wherein said rolling support means are mounted on said frame and engage the underside of said pallet.
 3. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the pallet and underlying support frame are each articulated at a plurality of corresponding transverse axes for relative hinging movement of the sections defined therein by said axes to move a body reposed supinely thereon into a reclined sitting position, said support frame having frame-adjusting apparatus connected thereto for maintaining any selected position of said sections, said pallet having but one of said axes between said pivotal connection and said free end, said support frame and pallet having interengageable stop means for halting their relative swinging movement when their long axes are respectively parallel and transverse.
 4. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection of the pallet to the support frame is a pin on one of them received in a socket on the other and separable therefrom by lifting the pallet, thereby disconnecting the pallet from the support frame.
 5. The fluoroscope top of claim 1 wherein the detachable connection of the carriage to the pallet comprises a pair of spaced, elongated, horizontal probes on said carriage and a pair of mating sockets secured to the sides of said pallet at its free end, the carriage being connectible to the pallet by movement of the carriage longitudinally of the pallet to insert the probes of the carriage over the end of the bed into their mating sockets on the pallet.
 6. The fluoroscope top of claim 5 wherein the Probes are swingable on vertical axes on said carriage and also vertically adjustable thereon to facilitate the insertion of the probes into the sockets of the pallet. 